抄録

Danhong injection (DHI), a Chinese Materia Medica standardized product extracted from <I>Radix Salviae miltiorrhizae</I> and <I>Flos Carthami tinctorii</I>, is effective in the treatment of atherosclerosis (AS)-related diseases. It is widely recognized that AS is a complex inflammatory disease of the arterial wall and the dendritic cells (DCs) is a major player in the pathogenesis of AS via mediating atherosclerotic antigen presenting and T lymphocytes. Here, we determined the effect and possible mechanism of DHI on oxidized low-density lipoprotein (ox-LDL)-induced maturation and immune function of DCs. Human monocyte-derived DCs were incubated with DHI or ciglitazone and were subsequently stimulated with ox-LDL to induce maturation. Similar to ciglitazone, a peroxisome proliferator activated receptor (PPAR) <I>γ</I> agonist, DHI, could significantly reduce ox-LDL-induced expressions of mature markers, enhance the endocytotic function, and inhibit secretions of cytokine on DCs. These effects of DHI could be partly reversed by silencing the PPAR<I>γ</I>. In conclusion, DHI could inhibit ox-LDL-induced maturation of DCs partly through activating a PPAR<I>γ</I>-mediated signaling pathway.